First role in an Australian theatrical feature film of English actress Charlotte Rampling.
This film was a co-production between Harvest Productions and the South Australian
Film Corporation.
The film provided actor Russell Crowe with the challenge of learning to expertly ride horses. Crowe
worked closely with well known film horsemen Bill Willoughby and Gerald Egan
to master the riding scenes throughout the film. Other than a couple of
bruises Crowe came out of the shoot unscathed.
For co-producer Peter Harvey-Wright, this movie was his first venture into feature film production. A professional actor who had starred in
many Australian productions, he
began developing 'Hammers over the Anvil' in 1982. At that point, Alan Marshall, the author of
the original story, was still alive. Harvey-Wright said: "Alan was most encouraging of the project until he died in 1984 and we really
tried to keep his spirit alive through the film," said Harvey-Wright. "I'm sure it is
something he would have been proud to see."
According to the film's press kit, this movie was the first time the South Australian
Film Corporation entered into a co-production arrangement with
another independent Australian producer.